Is the Amateurs Answer Lining Material Too Thin to Line a Basket?
A small number of our newer customers have asked this question. It is no surprise really.
We just have to consider what people have been used to and we completely understand their concern.
Prior to using our liners, people have worked with Moss, Coco coir, Thick fabric material etc. So, going from these thicker type liners to our liner is quite a difference.
What you find with these alternative liners is because they are so thick, they take up most of the basket. This isn’t good, as the plants have little room to develop. There is less room for the compost that the plants to feed from.
Our liner offers the maximum amount of space, by being so thin. This allows the basket to contain much more fertile compost and allow the plant roots room to grow.
The concern is whether the liner will tear due to the weight of wet compost, especially in larger baskets where there are larger spaces between bars.
..We can assure you that the Amateurs Answer Lining System is up for this task! The strong fibre material is much tougher than it first appears. In our opinion this is the perfect material to line baskets and planters with, as it allows water through it (not to stagnate), but retains moisture very well.
It is strong enough to hold weight and not tear, but can also be cut to allow side planting.
Money Back Guarantee
We always want our customers to be happy with their choice of liners and completely understand the people who do not wish to take a chance on using something different. That is why we offer a money back guarantee. Just send the items back to us and when we receive them back we will give a full refund.
…However, we do try and convince people to give it a go. This material really is strong enough to line all kinds of containers and continue to do so in future seasons. Having worked with this material for many years, making thousands of baskets ourselves and selling many more thousands of liners to the public, we are very confident that you won’t be disappointed.
Are these roots coming through our basket?
You may notice, as we have, that you may seem the start of some white plant roots coming through the liner.
Don’t worry, they don’t go far! The plants are doing what comes natural to them and searching for a water source. Once they realise that there is no water to be had outside the basket, the roots stop growing and the plant concentrates its energy inside the container.
The plant will stay healthy and you won’t have scraggly roots hanging all around your basket!
How do I use the Amateur’s Answer Hanging Basket Liner?
To obtain the best results from your liners, please follow these instructions.
- Using a large plant pot or small bucket (depending on the size of your basket). Place the plant pot on your working surface and, having removed the chains, place your empty basket, level, on the top.
- Place one of the liners over your basket, ensuring the overhang is equal all round.
- Using an old margarine tub or a piece of old polythene about 40cm. dia. Place this in the bottom of your basket to create a reservoir.
- Fill to half way with good quality potting compost and check that the overhang is still equal at the rim. Adjust if necessary. Now mix in, slow release fertilizer (about 50gm) to the compost in the basket, then fill to the brim.
- Pull gently on the liner to spread out any overlaps in the material. Doing this gives a neater appearance underneath, as you will see soon.
- Take one of the rubber bands. Pushing the loose edge of the liner down, place the rubber band just over the edge of the rim, gripping the liner on the outside of the basket. Working in opposite directions, fit the band full circle, under the rim.
- Using a sharp pair of scissors, trim the liner to about 7cm (2.75ins) around the perimeter of the basket.
- On wrought iron baskets with a deep top rim, allow 75mm (3”) overlap when trimming the liner.
- On Plantpac-Cookson plastic round rimmed baskets, the elastic band method is not required. Trim as shown on worksheet, carry out all planting and finally trim again close to the outer edge of the top rim before watering in.
- Now return to the top of your basket. With one hand, draw back the compost from the perimeter of the basket towards the centre and bring the loose edge of the liner over the rim with the other hand. (Don’t pull too tightly or you may pull the rubber band over the edge.) Holding the loose edge against the bars on the inside of the basket with one hand, replace the compost to hold it in place. Carry on around the perimeter.
Your basket is now ready to plant up.
What plants do you suggest to make a perfect Hanging Basket?
There are many variations in hanging basket design but all can be filled using ‘The Amateur’s Answer’ lining system.
- If you intend to use “Surfinia” petunias, only the top of the basket needs to be planted. These plants are so vigorous that they quickly blank out light to anything planted in the sides. Three “Surfinias” evenly spaced will give a terrific display.
- A Fuchsia, Geranium or non-stop Begonia for a centre piece would add to the display by giving some height. Other plants such as Bacopa, Brachycome, Diascia, Sanvitalia etc. could also be added to increase the effect and personalise your basket.
- To be a little more adventurous and create a ‘Busy Lizzy Ball’ you will need to put plants in the side of your basket. It may be helpful to plan your planting before starting.
- For the ‘Busy Lizzy’ ball you will need to plant 6 plants at two different levels in the side. Start by deciding on the starting point, a wide opening in the bars, low down. Place a marker (a coin perhaps) on the compost, directly above it. Then, looking at the top of the basket as a clock face, and the first marker as half past the hour, place another two markers at the ten to and ten past positions. Place a further three markers equally spaced between the first three and your marking off is complete.
Returning to the side again. With a pair of sharp scissors, make a slot about 4cm. long directly below your first marker and about one third of the way up. Using two fingers, make a cavity in the compost through the slot. Then, using plug or small cell grown plants, push one of the plants through the slot into the cavity. At the same time, from above, firm the compost onto the root ball with your other hand.
Repeat this procedure until all six plants at the lower level are in. Moving further up the side (about one third of the way down), plant another six plants, equally spaced between the lower ones, firming the compost onto the root balls as you go. The side planting is now complete.
Moving now to the top of the basket, insert a plant at each of the points originally marked with coins, (about 25mms/1”) which should be, again, equally spaced between the top row of side plants. When these are firmed in, place one plant in the centre. Then another four, equally spaced between the centre piece and those around the perimeter.
- Your basket is now complete. To get your basket off to a good start, water it well and using the same plant pot/bucket, stand it at floor level in a frost free place (preferably a heated glasshouse) for a week or two, before hanging out. Try to water your basket at least once a day. On hot windy days it may be necessary to water more than once.
- You cannot over-water your basket when using “The Amateurs Answer” as excess water will seep through it. Standing water would stagnate and poison your plants if your basket did not drain freely.
What is the maximum size hanging basket for this liner?
Our Amateurs Answer Hanging Basket Lining system (pack of 3) fits baskets up to 16” in diameter.
We recommend using gardening twine instead of the elastic bands supplied if you have a large 16” basket.
Our Amateurs Answer Universal Trough and Planter Liners fits troughs measuring up to 48 inches (122 cm).
For any baskets that exceed these sizes we do make a ‘Special Liner’ to suit you requirements. Please contact us for any information.
What is the maximum size hanging basket for this liner?
Our Amateurs Answer Hanging Basket Lining system (pack of 3) fits baskets up to 16” in diameter.
We recommend using gardening twine instead of the elastic bands supplied if you have a large 16” basket.
Our Amateurs Answer Universal Trough and Planter Liners fits troughs measuring up to 48 inches (122 cm).
For any baskets that exceed these sizes we do make a ‘Special Liner’ to suit you requirements. Please contact us for any information.
What’s the difference between your liner and a traditional moss or coco hanging basket liner?
There are so many alternative hanging basket liners on the market, to someone who hasn’t tried them all, it will seem confusing which one is the best to use.
The main differences between the Amateurs Answer basket liner and Moss or Coco liners are;
- Cost – Amateurs Answer Liners are a lot cheaper to purchase.
- Birds – The birds love the Moss liners and Coco liners for nesting, so tend to ruin the hanging baskets. The birds are not remotely interested in the Amateurs Answer Liners.
- Tidiness – Some of the Moss liners tend to look a little untidy. The Amateurs Answer Liner gives a very neat finish to the hanging basket.
- Re-usable – The Amateurs Answer liners can be used season after season.
- Variation – The Amateurs Answer liners can be used to provide a number of different variation of hanging baskets.